Wednesday 27 July 2022

A good day for juveniles

Very light and variable breeze early on, settled to a light WNW breeze for the rest of the day. Some cloud cover, but plenty of sunshine.

Middleton Nature Reserve 
Ringing report from Alan.

We had a decent ringing session this morning with two nets set on each side. The conditions were almost ideal with perhaps a little too much clear sun at times. However, the catch of 43 birds ( the majority juvenile) was satisfactory. The first juvenile Grasshopper Warbler was a nice catch.


Sparrowhawk 1

Wren 2

Dunnock 1

Robin 4

Blackbird 1

Grasshopper Warbler 1 juv

Sedge Warbler 5

Reed Warbler 2 plus 3 retraps

Lesser Whitethroat 3

Whitethroat 5

Blackcap 8

Chiffchaff 4

Willow Warbler 1

Great Tit 1 retrap

Bullfinch 1


I just did a quick circuit of the main pond in the afternoon (MD)

Additions to wildfowl 

Coot 1 first for a month or so

Moorhen have two young chicks


Dragonflies:
Emperor 2

Brown Hawker 2

Black-Tailed Skimmer 3

Common Darter 6


South Shore

Report from Pete Crooks.

Red Nab (9.10 – 10.45 am on rising tide)
28 Mediterranean Gull (18 adults, 10 juveniles) – with many heading off SE towards Potts Corner with the incoming tide.
420 Curlew
1 Whimbrel
1 colour-ringed Oystercatcher – green darvic & white code on left leg, but too distant to read
1 Rock Pipit


1 Grey Seal offshore


Heysham Nature Park – Butterflies included 7 Red Admiral, 2 Comma, 8 Gatekeeper, 6 Meadow Brown, 2 Common Blue and 1 Small Skipper


I checked along the wall as Pete was finishing (MD).

There were at least two juvenile Mediterranean gulls feeding on outflows (1 on No.2 then 2 on No.1). Probably some that Pete had seen on Red Nab.


Juvenile Mediterranean gull 

This clip, shows one of the juvenile Meds from all angles

Between myself, Janet and Pete we managed 13 butterfly species
Brimstone - 1 male on Middleton Nature Reserve 
Red Admiral
Peacock
Comma
Large White
Small White
Green-veined White
Meadow Brown
Gatekeeper 
Small Skipper
Ringlet 1 faded individual on Middleton 
Speckled Wood
Common Blue 

Janet took these shots
Common Blue

Red Admiral

Comma

Meadow Brown